*flamesuit on* powersliding an automatic

[natorious]

whats the best way to break the back end loose... just putting your foot in it doesnt work all that well as it takes to long to shift and the power comes on too slow...

is leaving an auto tranny in second and giving it some go pedal a bad thing as as long as you dont rev the hell outta the motor...

yes i know its not exactly legal and not good for the car but i am only doing it on some wet roads and having a little fun in my new rear wheel drive car..

ohh how i wish i had the grand available to do the manual swap.... it will come soon tho

pardon my ignorance about auto trannies... i have never owned a autotragic before this car

[nando]

if I can get my back end loose in an automatic ix I don't see why you couldn't in a RWD E30... I try not to do it too often (it usually requires wet pavement in an ix) but I can pretty much do it at command. it doesn't last for very long of course, once the power is transfered to the front wheels..

Putting your car in second won't hurt anything. Just don't bounce of the rev limiter. :)

[Ryan Stewart]

the easiest way to burn out is to load up the torque converter. Hold the brake (not hard, just enough to hold the car) while you slowly load up on the gas. So this until you can feel the car quiver from the back end as the wheels are trying to brake loose.

I used to do this all the time in the LeMans. Just keep in mind you are heating up your tranny a lot, not good.

[Digitalwave]

It really depends on your tires. I can't break my ES100's lose unless I try REALLY hard.

[EVOIIIM3]

Raise the rear tire pressure, about 15psi,
Then learn to left foot brake.

The ass will come out really easy!

Enter the corner, on gas, right before the apex, start to brake, while still on gas, the back will lighten up and come out.

Takes a LOT of practice! If I can do it in a 3600lbs 525 with 245 rubber you can do it in a 325.

[Charlie]

You actually have to ask this?

Pressures up, wheel turned at a high angle, abrubt, non-smooth application of throttle, basically, what you would usually avoid doing.

-Charlie

[natorious]

no to find a big empty space where i wont slam into a telephone pole when i mess it up... and where i wont be spotted by the local police =)... hey look at that its lunch break time

[randomtask37]

to tell you the truth, its easier for ME to get my back end out, and under control on dry pavement... granted, i drive a 5 speed. ive had some bad experiences in the rain. for me its easier to stay in control when its dry.

just my

[808BMW]

for me its easier to stay in control when its dry.

But he is asking how to lose control, making rain good :P

[a3ternus]

For me its easier to powerslide on dry roads too.And I m talking abt a 318i with 105bhp and a frickin open diff which spoils all the fun...
Maybe I should start practicing left foot braking again.
It seems so odd to me cos now i drive a RWD car,dont know why (!)
Eiter way,in the rain I always end up having the inside rear wheel spinning like crazy,the other one almost not spinning at all and the car moving in slow motion...LOL
A3TeRnuS

[jim89325is]

Funny how most people have no idea what throttle steering really is. Actually, it's a good thing, because it can only be done at the limits of traction, which is best done on a racetrack.

Basically, the back end comes out when you LET UP on the throttle, not when you floor it. Think about it: You're coming into a turn, preferably a tight radius, low speed corner. You then brake, before the corner, to what seems like a reasonable speed for the intended radius. You then initiate turn in, and head for the apex, all the while looking at your exit point. At this point, midway throught the corner (if you did everything right ;) , you'll be at the limits of traction on both the front and rear wheels. When your car is in this state, lifting the throttle causes the back end to lighten and come around, otherwise known as oversteer. Mashing the throttle does the opposite and causes the back end to bite and squat, which increases traction and thus understeer. It matters not whether you are driving an auto or manual, and works for both front and rear wheel drive cars. It's all in the weight transfer, and has little to do with horsepower. This can be done in slow, 2nd gear corners like turn two at Buttonwillow (clockwise), or on balls out 4th gear assualts on turn 8 at Big Willow. It takes some serious sack to go into turn 8 at 110mph without lifting, but knowing that if you do lift, the back end will come around and put you in the weeds, helps to keep your foot planted. :shock:

Now that I've explained the dynamics, please don't try it, unless you are with an instructor in a controlled environment.

What is being discussed in this thread is otherwise known as a BRODIE, and if you can't figure that one out, then you've got some serious lernin' to do! :D

-Jim

[a3ternus]

Well,I ve been using the left foot braking/weight transfer technique when I was driving FWD cars and believe me,I used it to great effect and with jaw dropping results 8) .
Since I started driving the BMW some 4 months ago,I dont know why,but it changed my perspective really much.I thought that the laws of physics changed... :? .
Its all in my head,I know,but please DO help me-and believe me,comments like
"Funny how most people have no idea what throttle steering really is."
and "What is being discussed in this thread is otherwise known as a BRODIE, and if you can't figure that one out, then you've got some serious lernin' to do! "
doesnt really promote a discussion,esp since I m not too keen on using slang or whatever... :roll:
Anyway,feel free to teach me new things,I m open minded...
A3TeRnuS

[Erick]

So I wouldnt have put too much stress on my automatic, I found a place where I would get the least amount of traction from my tires ( in this case a open road that has sand lying there ) and I would put it in the 2nd gear limiter and let it rip......

Be careful though..... I was so lost on focusing outside that with all the noises I did not realise that I was hitting the limiter..... I don't know for how long I was hitting the limiter nor do I want to know.

[randomtask37]

jim - i understand what your saying, and u sound like u have plenty of track experience, but i must contradict a few things. mabye these things are only in some given circumstances but they are direct contradictions.

well, u said that in tight, low speed (2nd or 3rd gear) corners, to get your car to oversteer u must let up on the throttle. i must say that i havnt never had that happen to me. But i have had situations where im coming around a corner pretty hot, brake, and coast through the first part of the corner. When i reach the apex if i dont give it any throttle i will understeer very badly and i am forced to push at least 1/2 throttle to counter the understeer. Now, that throttle im talking about has to very controlled. to much will throw me into a spin and to little will continue the understeer, the correct ammount will just push through without any indication of under or oversteer, but my preference is give a little more than whats needed to get the back end a little hot on select corners ;) .

mabye its my tire setup or suspension but i have tryed what you were saying before but i always end up with understeer.

mabye i should get my ass into a driving school, so an instructor can show me exactally what i need to do.

[jim89325is]

A3TeRnuS,
In no way was I trying to offend you; I was merely trying to clear up some common misconceptions, many of which I shared until a few years ago. My best advice to you would be to join the BMW CCA and go to a diving school. They not only teach you a lot, but also allow you to drive at insane speeds safely. Heck, even my local track (Thunderhill) does one day schools (no club affiliation required) for around $150 or so.

randomtask37,
When I'm talking about lifting in a slow corner to make the back end come out, I am only doing this on a racetrack and am at the limits of adhesion. Applying throttle in a corner to bring the back end around (powerslide, or BRODIE) also works, but requires a bit more HP than our (my) E30 has available. It also takes some considerable skill. I was able to use throttle to plant the back end and "drift" the car to the outside in an E36 M3 that I drove at Laguna Seca in '02, and it was a blast, once I got it right. :D

Have fun and be safe, but most of all, get to a track. It's almost as much fun as sex (from what I remember. ;) )

Jim